Destinations
Another Painful Day
“I had planned my first communication of the new year to be one of optimism and forward-looking. However, the speed in which the Omicron variant has ripped through our province and the rest of Canada means that my first correspondence of 2022 is to detail the provincial government’s most recent announcements on restrictions and increased support mechanisms for affected businesses,” writes Christopher Bloore, president & CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. He notes that Premier Ford announced that the provincial government, in response to a steep increase in...
Getting Outdoors In NYC In Winter 2022
NYC & Company unveiled the details of NYC Winter Outing, presented by preferred payment partner Mastercard, running from Jan. 18 through Feb. 13, 2022 and offering visitors and locals an opportunity to enjoy wintertime experiences at an attractive price point across hotels, dining, Broadway, museums, cultural institutions, attractions, performing arts and tours. The program brings together NYC & Company’s three signature programs, NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week, and will introduce a new program, NYC & Company’s first-ever NYC Hotel Week...
Yucatan Flying High With Return Of WestJet
Yucatan welcomed the return of WestJet’s seasonal YYZ-MID flight to its international airport in Merida just before Christmas. The reactivation of the route, which has operated successfully since 2015, will see it operated through the winter season. The route will operate a Boing 737-700 and Boing 737 -800, with a capacity of 142 and 174 passengers, respectively. The Mérida - Toronto route will be operating once a week until the end of the winter season in April 2022. Michelle Fridman, head of Yucatan Tourism Board, commented: “We are happy to welcome back all Canadians who...
FITUR Confirms Dates And Strengthens Health Protocols
IFEMA Madrid will maximizing its health and safety efforts at FITUR, its major international tourism fair, by following a strict health protocol that includes a mandatory requirement for EU visitors to have a valid vaccination certificate in the form of an EU Digital COVID certificate, while citizens of third countries will have to meet the border requirements in force at the time. Officials indicate that the forecasts for participation at FITUR 2022 are excellent, with levels of representation and international involvement very close to pre-pandemic shows. FITUR 2022 is set for...
WestJet Consolidating 15% Of January Flights
“Over the past 72 hours, we have seen a significant increase in delays and cancellations impacting our business. As we work to stabilize our operation to best serve our guests, we understand this has been immensely challenging and frustrating and for that we apologize,” writes Harry Taylor, Interim President and CEO, WestJet Group, Inc. in a message to customers and the travel trade. Taylor continues: “We could not have anticipated the rapid and unpredictable impact of the Omicron variant on our people and operations, coupled with prolonged frigid temperatures across Western...
Fernie Hotel Setting Sustainable Example
The Fernie Fox Hotel, located in the East Kootenays, is vying for the title of the most sustainable hotel in British Columbia, following the installation of an array of solar panels to the hotel roof, completed at the beginning of December. The 62.4 kW installation, by renewable energy solutions leader Dandelion Renewables, is set to be one of the largest solar panel structures on a commercial building in BC. It will provide a sustainable source of electricity for the property, which features 43 rooms and an outdoor hot tub. Marina Pauw, co-owner of the Fernie Fox Hotel, said:...
Hotelbeds Presses The Green Button
After collaborating with Tourism Ireland back in 2018, Hotelbeds is once again joining forces to promote the destination to travel agents in Germany, Spain, the UK and the US. Tourism Ireland has launched a comprehensive multi-channel campaign highlighting the island as a fantastic destination for a getaway or holiday. The message is simple: Ireland is eager to roll out the green carpet and welcome visitors. David Boyce, Head of New and Emerging Markets at Tourism Ireland, said: “We at Tourism Ireland are delighted, once again, to be working with Hotelbeds running campaigns across...
UNWTO, ADB Partner On New Recovery Report
UNWTO and the Asian Development Bank have launched a joint report on the use of big data for better tourism planning and management. The report features examples from across the Asia and the Pacific region while also showcasing the main trends in the use of big data in tourism at the forefront of technology and innovation. The report also makes clear the role that big data can play in recovery and the measurement of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of tourism. Tourism suffered the greatest crisis on record in 2020. International arrivals plunged by 73% in...